HOD Family Newsletter

Thursday, May 7th

Mark Rothstein - World of Jump Roping

Visits HOD

Tuesday, April 12th

Grade 2 Group Photo

Wednesday, May 13th

Author Rachel Calabrese

Visits HOD

May 18th - May 22nd

PTO Spring Book Fair

Schedule to follow

Wednesday, May 20th

Memorial Day Celebration

Monday, June 1st

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Grade 1 Field Day

More Information to follow

Tuesday, June 2nd

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Grade 2 Field Day

More Information to follow

Rachel Calabrese is coming to HOD! Rachel is introducing her book Sammy Starts Soccer to students in K-2, on Wednesday, 5/13/2026.

You can order the book here and she can sign a copy for your child.

Grade One ~ MONDAY, June 1st ~ 1:00- 2:00

Grade Two ~ TUESDAY, June 2nd ~ 1:00- 2:00

We would like your help to make

our field day a success!

We will need approximately 3-4 parent volunteers per classroom to help with our field stations! If you can help out this year, please click on the following "Field Day Volunteer" link by May 24th.

Field Day Volunteer Link

Please note: Volunteers must have a current CORI

on file with Norfolk Public Schools

Mr. Goodwin will contact you by return email with your assignment

and has requested that volunteers

arrive at the HOD at 12:30 PM!

Dear HOD and F/K Families,

As we welcome spring and head into the final stretch of the school year, we are asking for your partnership in helping reinforce safe and respectful behavior on the school bus.

For many children, the bus ride is an important part of the school day. A safe, calm, and respectful bus environment helps students start and end their day in a positive way. As noted in the Family Handbook, Norfolk Public Schools reminds families that bus transportation is a privilege and that students are expected to follow the driver’s directions to help keep everyone safe.

We would appreciate your support in reviewing these bus expectations with your child:

• Remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop

• Keep aisles clear

• Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself

• No eating or drinking on the bus

• Use kind and respectful words

• Speak quietly

• Listen to and follow the driver’s directions

• Help keep the bus clean

• Be patient and respectful when getting on and off the bus

• Keep all objects inside the bus at all times

These simple reminders go a long way in helping keep bus rides safe, orderly, and positive for all students. District guidance also notes that unsafe or disruptive behavior on the bus may lead to consequences, including loss of bus privileges. Thank you for partnering with us to support a bus experience that is safe and successful for everyone

We appreciate your continued support and partnership.

Sincerely,

Kristen Giffune, HOD Principal

Rebecca Austin, HOD Assistant Principal

Lisa Altham-Hickey, Freeman-Kennedy Principal

Adam Tarczuk, Freeman-Kennedy Assistant Principal

Please be sure to let your child's teacher know of any changes to your child's dismissal or after school schedule. This can be done by updating School Dismissal Manager and/or sending an email or note to the teacher.

Click the yellow bars below for more details.

Lunch Menus

Click on the flower for May Menu

To help us return items quickly, please label sweatshirts, jackets, lunchboxes, and other belongings with your child’s name. This is also a great opportunity to remind students about BEE-ing responsible by keeping track of their things.

From time to time, Mrs. Steck needs to offer clothing to our students. Our supply is dwindling,

so if anyone has gently used pants and shorts in sizes 6 - 10 that they no longer use,

we would be grateful to receive them.

Thank you!

If your child is not feeling well, your pediatrician is the best person to consult about whether they can go to school. Common sense, con­cern for your child's well-being, and the possibility of infecting classmates should all contribute to the decision about whether your child should stay home. As a general guideline, keep your child home if:

• They have a fever of 100 degrees F or higher. They should remain at home until fever-free for 24 hours without using fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
• They have had episodes of vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
• They have been diagnosed with conjunctivitis(Pink Eye). They may return 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication.

Below is a list of common health issues for your reference

Fever

A temperature of 100 degrees or higher is a fever. Children should remain at home fever-free for 24 ours without takeng Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

Vomiting/Diarrhea

Children should remain at home symptom free for 24 hours and are able to ingest fluids and food comfortably.

Coughs/Cold

If your child has discomfort from their cold symptoms, consider keeping them home. A continuous cough and/or continuous or green nasal drainage may need to be evaluated by your child's physician.

Conjunctivitis

Your child may need to be on an antibiotic for 24 hours after the first dose before returning to school or a note from your student's physician with other guidance.

Strep Throat

Children cannot return to school until 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic is taken. They should feel well enough to return to school.

Suspicious Rash

Children with rashes that are suspicious should have them evaluated by a physician and be cleared to return to school.

The Norfolk Select Board invites residents to submit a note of interest for appointment to the Freeman-Kennedy School Building Committee. This committee will oversee a proposed building expansion project at the Freeman-Kennedy School in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), guiding the project from feasibility through construction and final close-out.

The May edition, linked below, includes the following:

• Mental Health Awareness Month Information

• Resources to support you or your child

• Athletes and Mental Health

• PPAL Mental Health Conference for Parents/Caregivers/Professionals

• Transition to Summer- Helping Kids Through End-of-Year Stress

Screen Time and Summer

• Food Access Update: Lenore's Pantry Operated by Hockomock YMCA

Click on the button below for more details.

Parents and caregivers are invited to participate and share ideas. Please visit the website for the latest PTO meetings and events.

Wednesday, May 13th at 7pm at Freeman Kennedy Library

Wednesday, June 3rd at 7pm

Click on the button below for more information about the PTO!